Stats

It feels Ake's rep has gone down since he joined City, however I remember when he left Bournemouth, a lot of fans wanted him and were shocked when we did not trigger the buy back option. Thing is, he has not declined, he just is behind better defenders at City, hence why he doesn't get much game time. In a back three, I think he would be really good here.

Your alive 😲

They desperately want Di Maria but yes, I think they defo will want another attacker as they likely losing both Dybala and Morata. Think they will try for Gnabry also.

Your late to the party Vesper 😀

They could easily interchange with each other. Both of them are more than capable of playing on the LW and switching positions.

TBH, they make have been making 'big' signings last few seasons but still miss out on UCL football. Last season Odegaard, season before was Partey (who had just won league with Atletico) and season before they bought Pepe (who had just ripped up the Ligue 1). This season it may be Jesus and Raphinha (or another player). Let's see. Looks like they are building something big but we hear this season after season.

Jonathan David would struggle in a lone formation imo. He plays with another targetman in France and it is easier for him to get in behind the defence. In the PL, playing up in his own, I have huge doubts. I think Osimhen is the real deal tbh but I don't think it is a realistic transfer.

Abraham did not set the world alight when he was at Swansea. Could be for two reasons. One being that he wasn't just ready and two being that he was playing at inferior team. Broja showed more at Southampton than Abraham did at Swansea. Anyway 2 seasons later he scored 18 goals when he played his first full season. My point being is Broja has had an inconsistent this season but generally speaking he had a decent loan and I think he was better than Abraham was when he was on loan at Swansea. His goals were of real quality and if we don't give him a chance at least, just sends out the wrong message because I am sure he will get better.

Liverpool he rotated some of his 'best' players. It was lower down his priority as three nights before they played Atletico away which he considered more important where KDB was a sub. Ederson, KDB, Ederson were all on the bench in that cup game. PSG game at City, Man City had a few injuries and they did well to comfortably win that game without no KDB and Foden but he may well not have started that had everyone been fit. PSG at PSG's ground I will give you that one. But when we played them at home he was on bench. Both games against Real he was on the bench. Both games against United he was on bench. Against us at the Bridge on the bench. He started one against Liverpool and on the bench but more my point being is he started to be trusted again towards end of season but generally speaking when season started he was out of favour. Also in their last game of season, baring in mind this is title decider and they had no game in week, he was left on bench. My point being is he is not considered a consistent starter. He earned it. Grealish started virtually every game for City when he joined. Sterling did not get that favourism last season.

He does not get in their best team last season. He started more games if for instance Pep had a big CL game in the week then Pep would rotate in the weekend and start Sterling but the only reason he started more as the season went on was because Grealish was not really producing the goods. At the start of the season, Sterling couldn't get a sniff but in the big games, he would leave Sterling out. But one thing for sure is he is the most effective City player for goals for minutes. This has been the case for the past 5 seasons. I think he can be very inconsistent but I am a little surprised how much people are against the potential deal considering how many goals, assists and penalties he creates every season.

Another thing with Sterling to note is his goals and assists numbers. While I don't think he will reach the same scoring heights at us as he did at City but this is his numbers last 5 seasons in all comps: 17/18: 23 Goals, 17 Assists, 18/19: 25 goals 17 Assists, 19/20: 31 goals 10 Assists, 20/21: 14 goals 12 Assists, 21/22: 17 goals 9 Assists They are brilliant numbers. For a player who pulls that numbers every season at a team, regardless of their quality, that is impressive. Last season 17 goals is a decent return for him, when you consider the amount of times he was left on the bench. If he had stated more games, he defo would of got near the 30 mark I am sure. Grealish started more games and did not score more than 5 goals right? So I think any deal up to £50m, we should be snapping up. Mane left for Bayern which people are calling a good deal and that deal with bonuses will reach £35m. When you consider that Sterling has 3 years on Mane, I would consider anything up to £50m a good deal for a player who has proven to score, assist and creates numerous amount of pens with his dribbling ability and pace.

Tbh, in this market that is a deal. I know he is inconsistent but his stats last few seasons he has got into double figures for goals and assists. His record is brilliant and his injury record is brilliant too. Anyone with the stats he has, that should be considered a top deal for us because he is adding quality to us. I don't think he will get the same goals he does with us that he did with City, however stats wise, we are getting a player who has proven quality in the prem.

Although Eriksen is a no.10, he can also play out wide as well. Same as Fernandes. So sometimes it would not be surprise to see both of them playing or even both set up as two no.10s. When Alli was on fire for Spurs, Eriksen was primarily used as a LW.

Altered it for you 😉

In what way. I see him at RW for City and I don't think he adds anything special there. Up front, I prefer Havertz to him.

Not really sold on Jesus. Sometimes, I see him and he just seems lost. Also with all the chances City create, I am surprised he has not scored more goals. He seems on the periphery when I see him and personally I think if we had some of our attackers in that City team, they would be scoring more goals than they score here.

I get he wants the move, but we need to be rigid and not just rid of him because he wants out. So we loan him out, want him to agree to wage cut but we still will pay him partly while at Inter? Come of it. Are we mugs?

I mean we have Silva, Azpi (if he stays), Jorginho (if he stays) and even Mendy. I just don't think for business purposes with wages he is on, he is as vital as he was before. There will be games for sure that if he is not here, we would be like 'damn, why did we get rid of Kante', however there will be a large chunk where he is unable to play due to risk of injury or him actually being injured.

I am in two minds with it. The guy is our best paid player and is not a consistent starter. He is also going to be 32 next season and with his injuries, is it worth keeping a player on the books when we could free up those wages and spend towards other players wages and new signings? We have Gallagher who while doesn't offer the defensive security Kante does, offers same energy and better goal threat. And if we decide to buy another CM, who is younger and even better on the ball, I would not be so against it. I wouldn't say I regret any of the players we sold to United in hindsight (Mata and Matic).

That is an interesting question but for me he is a top player. I have been raving about him for a while and before we signed Saul on loan, I was hoping we would sign him to compete with Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante and was . I thought Arsenal were going to go in for him last season but I think they were put off that he would be going to AFCON and went for Lokonga (fortunately) as Bissouma would suit them perfectly. But I have watched him and I have raved about him in this forum before. Just search the 'search' button and see what I have posted. Has had enough stellar season. There isn't anything he lacks. He is athletic, strong, good technique and vision also. That was towards end of 2021, but even before that he has bene linked with moves but never materialized. That is an interesting point though. I still think teams will go in for him though despite that.

This is the issue with our fans. I don't mean this specifically at you, @DDA but when Broja was firing, there was such a large majority who were stating this is why we should of given Broja a chance and not wasted money on Lukaku. Others saying he needs to be playing upfront next season with Havertz. Now he has struggled for a few games, he is suddenly not good enough. He is just 20! He needs to be given time and work on few things but this is where likes of Mourinho went wrong and backfired on him.

Towards latter stages of season he has not been the same but first half of season, he looked the real deal. Acceleration, good strength and excellent finishing as well as anticipation. You only have to see the quality of some of his goals to see there is a top striker there eg West Ham in FA Cup, Palace and Brighton goals in the league. His goal against Brighton was pure class. You just can't help but watch it over and over again. He is only 20 too, so he will improve. Although he did not score against United at Old Trafford, he terrorized their defence and he was magnificent. He was given MOTM award that game too. Same against Spurs, he had another brilliant game at the Lane. I have seen enough of him to think there is a potential top striker.

His goals dried up and his goal record in the league was underwhelming but you can see he has the tools to a top striker. I defo think he would suit us as impact player next season with his acceleration. Cannot sell under any cost.

His wages are ridiculous and when they gave him the contract, they knew they already had a no.1 keeper. It is good having competition but to give the reported wages to a disputed no.1 is ridiculous. But it is United...

Ironically, I am sure he is talking about you, even though I know you wasn't making a joke about it. Could be wrong, LOL.